New Delhi: Fourteen persons, including six Chinese nationals, have been arrested by customs officials at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport for allegedly smuggling gold worth about Rs 8 crore into the country.
The accused also included five women, who had concealed gold in their rectum, a custom official said. The 14 people were arrested in five incidents that were reported in the past three days at the airport, said Anubha Sinha, Joint Commissioner (Customs) at the IGI Airport.
It is one of the biggest seizures made by the customs in recent times, she said. Besides the five Chinese, the customs department arrested Iranian and Azerbaijan nationals. The officials on Wednesday and cut off two Chinese nationals after their arrival from Bangkok, Mr Sinha said
“A detailed examination of their baggage and personal search resulted in recovery of six kg of gold. They had concealed gold in the form of bangles worn by them. The goldworth Rs 1.8 crore has been recovered,” she said.
In another case, an Iranian national was held after his arrival from Dubai on Tuesday for allegedly trying to smuggle in eight kg gold.
On the same day, five Azerbaijan nationals, including three women, were arrested for smuggling in 2.45 kg gold. On 11 June, four Chinese nationals, including two women, were arrested for smuggling six kg gold. Incidentally, around five kg was concealed by the women in their rectum.They were arrested on arrival from Hong Kong, said Anees Cherkunnath, deputy commissioner (Air Intelligence) at IGI.
